Kirk. — On a revised Arrangement of N.Z. Sjjecies of Dacrydium. 385 



Key to the Species. 



A. Leaves of young plants, terete, spreading, passing into the mature 

 imbricating state by gradual transitions. Nuts solitary (except in D. 

 westlandicum), not compressed. 



1. Branches pendulous, mature leaves imbricating all round. 



D. cupressinuni. 



2. Branches erect, mature leaves triangular, 4-fariously imbricating. 



D. intermedium. 



3. Branches erect, dioecious ; nuts 1-3. D. westlandicum. 



4. Branches prostrate, struggling, mono3cious. D. laxifoUuin. 



B. Leaves of young plants linear, flat, abruptly changing into the mature 

 state; nuts 1-5, compressed. 



5. Erect, recumbent, or prostrate, leaves of young plants sessile ; nuts 

 1-2. D. bidwllUi. 



6. Erect, young leaves shortly petioled ; nuts 1-2 ; mature leaves 

 4-fariously imbricating. D. colemoi. 



7. Erect, young leaves shortly petioled ; nuts 1-5 ; mature leaves sub- 

 cylindrical. 1). kirkii. 



1. Dacrydium cupressinum. 



Solander in Forst. Plantis. EscuL, p. 80: Prodr., p. 92; Don in Lamb. Pin., edit. 

 1, p. 93, t. 41 ; Bich., Conif., p. 16, t. 2, f. 3 ; A. Kich., Fl. Nov. Zel., p. 361 ; 

 A. Cunn., Prodr. in Ann. Nat. Hist., I., p. 214 ; Endl., Con., p. 225 ; Hook, f., 

 Flora of New Zeal., I., p. 233 : Handbook of N.Z. Fl., p. 258; Carr., Conif., 

 p. 486; De CandoUe, Prodr., XVI., pars 2, p. 494. 

 Thalamia cupressi/ia, Spreng., Syst. Veg., 3, p. 890. 

 A dioecious tree 60-80 feet high or more, trunk 3-5 feet in diameter, 

 bark scaling, branches pendulous, pale green ; leaves of young plants terete, 

 lax, ascending, on older branches shorter, trigonous decurrent, imbricating 

 all round, J inch long ; on mature branches shorter, subulate, curved, 

 densely imbricating, -^V inch long ; male catkins not seen ; nuts on the 

 tips of curved branchlets, solitary, ovoid, -|- inch long, not compressed ; 

 involucral cups rarely fleshy. 



Hab. Throughout New Zealand, ascendmg to 2,000 feet. 

 A handsome tree, affording valuable although not durable timber. 

 Young trees up to 25 feet high, when not too crowded, form objects of 

 exquisite beauty. Their pyramidal or conical habit, and their long slender 

 pendulous pale green branches, present an aspect totally different frpm that 

 of any other native tree. In old specimens the pyramidal habit has dis- 

 appeared, the branches are spreading, the pendulous branchlets short, and 

 the leaves more closely imbricated, so that although the aspect is still 

 unique in the New Zealand forest, much of the elegance and grace of the 

 early state is lost. xl 



